Purse insert



. United States Patent [72] Inventor lilta E. Ody

237 Michigan St, Toledo, Ohio 43624 [21] AppLNo. 719,565 [22] Filed April 8, 1968 Patented 0cl.l3,1970

.[54] PURSE lNSERT 12 Claims, 2 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl 150/34, 150/28. 150 30, 150/36 [51] lnt.Cl ..A45c13/02 FieldofSearch 150/28. 28.1. 30, 34, 35, 32, 1.6; 190/51. 52

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,756,764 4/1930 Samstag 150/3-1X 2,047,914 7/1936 Lifton 150/].6 2,064,333 12/1936 Ashkenas... ISO/34X 2,260,700 10/1941 Bloom et a1 150/34UX 2,477,388 7/1949 Moore 150/34 2,624,385 l/l3 Hogan.'... /30 2,899,998 8/1959 Carroll 150/30 2,960,137 11/1960 Lipsitz..; 150/28UX Primary Examiner-Donald F. Norton Attorney-Paul F. Stutz ABSTRACT: A was insert adapted 0 hold m number and a variety of items likely to be carried by a female and adapted to: be selectively contained in a variety of outer decorative purse receptacles; said purse insert including a pair of spaced, relatively stiff, principal side walls, spaced end walls and a bottom wall; all said walls being connected as to define a variably sized central pocket generally coextensive with said spaced side walls, separate relatively flexible webbing pieces secured to said spaced side walls at spaced intervals to thereby define a plurality of side-by-side article'receiving pockets generally within said central pocket, leaving a substantial portion of said central pocket unobstructed for reception of miscellaneous larger articles in miscellaneous array.

Patented Oct. 13, 1970 3,533,459

Sheet of 2 INVENTOR. ELTA EODV AME? 4.

Patented 0a. 13, 1970 I 3,533,459

Sheet 2 of 2 I INVENTOR. ELTA E. Dow

PURSE INSERT The present invention relates to an improved purse insert construction.

By a purse insert is meant an article in the nature of a multiple pocket receptacle adapted to contain in orderly fashion a plurality of miscellaneous items and being adapted for insertion in any one of a females many decorative outer purses.

It is, of course, well known that a woman desirably carries a purse or a handbag which is decoratively compatible with the dress, suit, jacket or coat constituting the principal feature of her outer raiment. lt is also generally known that a woman usually possesses a plurality of purses, each being decoratively compatible with a different outfit, suit, dress, coat or the like. ln changing from one outfit to another as, for example, changing from a daytime outfit to an evening outfit, the woman generally selects a particular decorative purse for the particular outfit selected. it thus follows that the items carried in a particular purse must be changed from the one purse to the particular purse which is more decoratively complimentary with the outfit to be changed into, whether it be for morning, afternoon or evening wear. This change in outfit and the selection of an appropriate purse usually involves the removal of the many items located in the purse and the relocation of these many items into the purse selected for the change in outfit.

This is necessarily troublesome, time consuming and frequently results in misplacement or loss of articles.

lt is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide an integral purse insert member which is adapted to contain in convenient array the large variety of personal items and at the same time provide this insert which is readily removable from a given decorative purse and relocatable into a purse constituting an outer decorative receptacle compatible with the outfit to be next worn.

It is a particular object of the present inventionto provide a purse insert construction which is of novel and unique constructional detail as will accommodate a large number of different-shaped items.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide such a purse insert construction which holds these items in preselected relationship with each other as to provide convenient accessibility at the will or whim of the person carrying the purse insert in a particularly decorative outer purse member.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide such a purse insert construction which is extremely wearable and capable of easy house-cleaning and is, at the same time, decorative in and of itself.

It is a particular object of the present invention to provide such a purse insert which is of a universal nature; namely, capable of holding in preselected relationship with other items a wide variety of personal items necessarily carried by a female at all times.

The foregoing, as well as other objects of the present invention, will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the annexed sheets of drawings on which there is shown, for purposes of illustration only, a single embodiment of the purse insert construction of the present invention.

IN THE DRAWINGS HO. 1 is a three-quarter perspective view looking generally, obliquely, downwardly into the purse insert construction of the present invention shown with its component parts assembled together in unitary, utilitarian fashion; and

FIG. 2 is a similar view but with the component parts shown exploded laterally in order to better convey an understanding of the constructional details of the individual components and, as well, to better illustrate certain advantageous functional details of construction.

In describing the construction in detail, reference should be had to both figures unless specific reference is made toagiven figure. Reference numerals in the two viewswill identify the same parts to aid in an understanding of the constructional details and the relationship of the component parts. Reference numerals 13 and 15 identify two principal upstanding side walls which are generally vertically upstanding. They are connected along their marginal side edges and bottom edges by a double thickness strip or band 17-19. The strip piece 17 is the outer part while the strip 19 is the inner part taken with reference to the assembled insert generally identified by the reference numeral 10. The connection of the components thus far mentioned in the manner described and as illustrated generally define an open topped major pocket 23 which is generally coextensive with the lateral extent of the principal side walls 13 and 15 and between the end walls and bottom wall defined by the double thickness strips 17 and 19. The walls Band 15 are generally of the same rectangular size and are formed of a relatively stiff, self-supporting fabric, such as an upholstery fabric, lending thereby a certain spatial rigidity and self-supporting character to the construction as described. The pair of strips or bands 17 or 19 are conveniently formed of a somewhat more flexible and less stiff material as, for example, a vinyl sheet material such as may be associated with a shower curtain.

In accordance with one featureof the purse insert of this invention, one edge of the strip l9, e.g., the edge 19a, is not stitched in joining the components together, but rather is left free along the bottom region to thereby define, between the upper strip 19 in the bottom wall region and the underlying lower strip 17, an accessible elongated recess 1% in which may be located an item such as paper or currency in a generallyhidden relationship since nonnal casual inspection of the central pocket 23 will reveal the inner surface of the bottom wall defined by the upper surface of strip19, but the lateral extent-thereof will not reveal the free edge 19a. By free edge, I mean as described that it is not stitched but can be reached by hand insertion through the central pocket to lift the edge 19a, revealing the hidden recessed space 19b between the band 19 and the band 17. This area is generally designated by the reference numeral 19b, recognizing that it extends the full lateral extent of the pocket 23.

A fairly flexible vinyl sheet good of rectangular contour I generally designated 30 is stitched or otherwise secured to the inner surface of wall 13. The lateral extent of the rectangular piece of vinyl 30 is somewhat greater than that of the wall 15.

The reference letter S generally designates the plurality of veredge of the panel 15. By reason of the construction justdescribed, the sheet material 30 and the side wall 15 together define upwardly opening, side-by-side minor pockets 31, 32, j

33 and 34 adapted to contain, respectively, a lighter in the pocket 31, an eyebrow pencil in the pocket 32, a compact or pill box in the pocket 33 and cigarettes or the like in pocket 34. The pockets just described are generally located within the central pocket 23 but leave it unobstructed for reception of eyeglasses, Kleenex packets. keys, sandwiches, etc.

On the outside of the wall 15, there is secured another sheet, generally designated 40. It is vertically stitched at the lateral margins and at the intermediate vertical zones S1 and S2, defining thereby three pockets 41, 42 and 43 on the exterior of the wall 15. They are adapted to securely contain, respectively, cards, licenses and other identification items since they are relatively flush against the exterior surface, with the exception of the pocket 42 which contains the gussets G which permit it to contain a somewhat larger item, for example, an extra pack of cigarettes, a small bottle of perfume or the like. v

Another piece of rectangular, generally flexible sheet material identified by the reference numeral 50 is secured on the inside of wall 13 much in the same manner as the flexible material 30. Spaced vertical stitching generally designated S defines a plurality of side-by-side pockets generally designated 51, 52, 53, 54 and 55. Pockets S1 and 55 are liberally gusseted for containing relatively bulky items, while pocket 52 is well adapted by reason of its relatively thin shape to contain-a lipstick, while pocket 53 can contain an eyebrow pencil, pocket 54 a ballpoint pen or the like.

The lines bearing arrowheads at their end extremities illustrate the manner of bringing together the various sheet components illustrated in FIG. 2 in order to form the assembled connected purse insert construction of FIG. 1,

lnaccordance with a further extension of the purse insert of the present invention, said purse insert includes a side wall generally designated 60. This side wall is generally of about the same size as the walls 13 and 15 and is composed of the same relatively stiff sheet material, for example, upholstery fabric. it is secured along its bottom edge 60a and its side edges 60b to the wall 13 and is, in fact, stitched to the lateral edge of the strip 17 to hold it integral with and in essentially flush-abutting relationship with the side wall 13. The upper edges are not secured and therefore provide access to pocket 65 between wall 60 and wall 13. Between the side wall 13 and the just-described side wall 60, there is located a wall 70 intermediate the latter two and generally, laterally coextensive therewith, although somewhat shorter in vertical extent; the top edge being conveniently hemmed, as at 700. The member 70 is stitched along its bottom and side edges to hold it in place. The upper edges of side wall 13 and side wall 60 desirably each contain one-half of a slide fastener such as a zipper; the reference numeral Z1 identifying the half of the zipper stitched to the upper edge of side wall 60, while the reference numeral 22 identifies the zipper half stitched to the upper edge of side wall 13. A zipper slide fastener Z3, shown in the opened position in FIG. 1 and in the closed position in FIG. 2, permits the closure of pocket 65 defined between the walls 60 and 13; the partition 70 serving to divide this pocket into two parts. This is of utility in serving as a separator for keeping large bills on one side and small bills on the other side or for separating checks from currency or for separating other items of appropriate size as to be contained in the pocket 65.

in accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention, the wall 60 which becomes the outer wall of the composite purse insert member bears exteriorly thereof a rectangular piece 80 of flexible sheet good secured along lateral margins 81 and 82 to the exterior surface of the wall member 60. The piece 80 is generously gusseted as at 8384 and bears a snap fastener 85 centrally thereof. A closure flap 87 is affixed along the top marginal edge of the piece 80 and likewise bears a complementary snap fastener 85a adapted to releasably secure the pocket 90 defined between the piece 80 and the side wall 60. This pocket admirably serves as a coin receptacle and the snap fastener arrangement provides security, while at the same time the generously gusseted construction permits the finger and the hand of the user to reach down into its confines for removal of coins,

The reference numeral 9] identifies a relatively minor strip of which one end 92 is secured in the end region of the purse insert, that is, proximate the end walls composed of the bands 17 and 19, and has another extremity 93 bearing a snap fastener adapted to releasably connect with snap fastener 94 on the strip 17. Reference numeral 91a identifies an identical strip at the other end of the purse insert 10. These releasable strips having one end engaged to the purse insert by a snap fastener and the other end stitched to the receptacle provide a convenient means for holding a handkerchief, a pair of gloves, a kerchief or a set of keys. A somewhat bulky kerchief can be readily compressed at its midpoint by unsnapping the band 90 or 9111 and encircling it around the headband and refastening the snap fastener, holding the headband relatively securely. Obviously, a pair or a set of keys contained on the usual metal ring will be readily engageable by the strip 91a and held as long as thesnap fastener 93-94 is snapped shut.

In summary, it will be seen that the multi-pocketed purse insert as above described is extremely utilitarian, having defined therein a plurality,of varied sized pockets for any number of utilitarian items desirably carried by a woman in her handbag or purse. The pocket spaces range from extremely small for a pencil, a ballpoint or an eyebrow pencil to a lipstick to the central pocket 23 which is adapted to contain a fairly cumbersome item even, for-example, a sandwich possibly carried by the working-girl. Provision is made for almost any item including cigarettes, drivers licenses. calling cards. auto registrations, currency, coins, checks. The central pocket istrations, currency, coins, checks. The central pocket 23 can contain a checkbook or a set of glasses. The currency pocket 65 is provided with a zippered closure for convenience and security. The end and bottom walls defined by the strips 17 and 19 include provision for a secret pocket 1%, as it were. by reason of the nonstitching ofthe edge 19a.

The materials as described for the principal side walls are relatively stiff, lending a degree of spatial regidity to the overall construction, while the weblike pieces 30, S0, 40 and are of relatively flexible sheet vinyl good which lends itself to ready stitching securement to the somewhat stiffer primary side walls, lending facility to the production of the purse insert. The materials, namely, formed of an upholstery fabric and a vinyl sheet good, lend themselves to ready cleaning in the event ofencountering dirt or spillage of makeup, sandwich content or the like in the casual use of the item. The strips 17 and 19 forming the end walls and bottom wall of the principal pocket 23 being very flexible are capable of ready compression to a size dictated by the amount of and size of the articles contained therein and in the minor pockets.

l have described my invention in particular detail but it will be appreciated that variations in constructional detail and modification in assembly arrangements can be arrived at by an understanding as provided by the foregoing detailed description. Accordingly, it is intended to include all obvious equivalents and modifications unless to so do would be clearly violative of the language of the appended claims.

lclaim:

l. A purse insert including:

a first principal side wall formed of relatively stiff, yet flexible, material; 7 i

a second principal side wall formed of relatively stiff, yet

flexible, material;

means connecting said first and second side walls along the bottom edges and upstanding side edges thereof to define a central, upwardly opening major pocket generally between and coextensive with said first and second side walls;

a sheet of relatively flexible material secured along thebottom edge and at horizontally spaced regions of the inner surface of one of said first and second side walls, said sheet being longer in the horizontal dimension than said side wall thereby to define a plurality of upwardly opening, side-by-side, article-receiving minor pockets generally within said central pocket but leaving a substantial portion of said central pocket unobstructed; and

a generally rectangular third wall formed of relatively stiff, yet flexible, material, said third wall being secured along its bottomsedge and side edges to the bottom edge and side edges on the exterior of one of said first and second side walls forming between said wall and the connected wall an upwardly opening pocket narrower than said major pocket, although generally coextensive in size with said third wall and said major pocket.

2. A purse insert as claimed in claim 1, wherein the upper edges of said narrower pocket bear secured thereto a slide fastener means whereby said narrower pocket may be selectively closed for security,

3. A purse insert as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said third wall carries on its exterior surface a segment of sheet material secured'to said third wall along its bottom and vertical side edges, said sheet having a lateral dimen sion appreciably greater than the distance between the spaced securement regions and said sheet having gussets therein to'define thereby a generous upwardly opening pocket;

said third wall bears a flap secured just above said just-mentioned pocket, said flap being foldable down over said pocket; and

releaseable snap fastener means carried by said flap and said segment to hold said pocket closed with said gussets collapsed.

4. A purse insert including:

a first principal side wall formed of relatively stiff. yet flexible, material;

a second principal side wall formed of relatively stiff, yet

flexible, material;

means connecting said first and second side walls along the bottom edges and upstanding side edges thereof to define a central, upwardly opening major pocket generally between and coextensive with said first and second side walls;

a sheet of relatively flexible material-secured along the bottom edge and at horizontally spaced regions of the inner surface of one of said first and second side walls, said sheet being longer in the horizontal dimension than said side wall thereby to define a plurality of upwardly opening, side-by-side, article-receiving. minor pockets generally within said central pocket but leaving a substantial'portion of said central pocket unobstructed; and

wherein one of said first and second walls bears on its exterior surface a sheet of material secured thereto in horizontally spaced regions and along the bottom edge of said material to thereby form a plurality of upwardly opening, sidc-by-side exterior pockets, at least one of which is generally in flushabutting relationship with the exterior surface of the adjacent wall and is thereby adapted to frictionally receive thin articles such as driver's license credit cards, personal cards and the like.

5. A purse insert including:

a first principal side wall formed of relatively stiff, yet flexible, material;

a second principal side wall formed of relatively stiff, yet

flexible, material;

means connecting said first and second side walls along the bottom edges and upstanding side edges thereof to define a central, upwardly opening major pocket generally between and coextensive with said first and second side walls;

a sheet of relatively flexible material secured along the bottom edge and at horizontally spaced regions of the inner surface of one of said first and second side walls, said sheet being longer in the horizontal dimension than said side wall thereby to define a plurality of upwardly opening, side-by-side article-receiving minor pockets generally within said central pocket but leaving a substantial portion of said central pocket unobstructed;

strip formed of flexible material and having one end secured to one of said end walls and side walls proximate the upper edge thereof, the opposite end of said strip bearing a releasable engagement means; and

matching engagement means secured to one of said walls proximate the secured end of said strip.

6. A purse insert including:

a first principal side wall formed of relatively stiff, yet flexible, material;

a second principal side wall formed of relatively stiff, yet

flexible, material;

means connecting said first and second side walls along the bottom edges and upstanding side edges thereof to define a central, upwardly opening major pocket generally between and coextensive with said first and second side walls; I

a sheet of relatively flexible material secured along the bottom edge and at horizontally spaced regions of the inner surface of one of said first and second side walls, said sheet being longer in the horizontal dimension than said side wall thereby to define a plurality of upwardly opening, side-by-side, article-receiving minor pockets generally within said central pocket but leaving a substantial portion of said central pocket unobstructed;

a second sheet of relatively flexible material secured along the bottom edge and at horizontally spaced regions ofthe inner'surface of the other of said side wall, said sheet being longer in the horizontal dimension than said side wall thereby forming a plurality of upwardly opening, side-by-side minor pockets generally within the confines of said major pocket but having a substantial portion'of said central pocket unobstructed;

said means connecting said side walls being formed of a linear strip or band of relativelyflexible material secured along its marginal edges to the bottom edges and the upstanding side edges of said principal side walls, thereby forming flexible bottom and end walls which are relatively collapsible whereby said major pocket is of variable size; and

a generally rectangular third wall formed of relatively stiff.

yet flexible, material, said third wall being secured along its bottom edge and side edges to the bottom edge and side edges on the exterior of one of said first and second side walls forming between said third wall and the connected wall an upwardly opening pocket narrower than said major pocket, although generally coextensive in size with said third wall and said major pocket.

7. A purse insert as claimed in claim, wherein the upper edges of said second and third walls bear secured thereto a slide fastener means whereby said pocket between said second and third walls may be selectively closed for security.

g A p urse insert as claimed in claim 7, wherein one of said first and second walls bears on its exterior surface a sheet of material secured thereto in'horizontally spaced regions and along the bottom edge of said material to thereby form a plurality of upwardly opening, side-by-side exterior pockets, at least one of which is generally in flush-abutting relationship with the exterior surface of the adjacent wall and is thereby adapted to frictionally receive thin articles such as drivers license, credit cards, personal cards and the like.

9. A purse insert as claimed in claim 8, wherein: said third wall carries on its exterior surface a segment of sheet material secured to said third wall along its bottom and vertical side edges, said sheet having a lateral dimension appreciably greater than the distance between the spaced securement regions and said sheet having gussets therein to define thereby a generous upwardly opening pocket; said third wall bears a flap secured just above said just-mentioned pocket, said flap being foldable down over said generous pocket; and

releasable snap fastener means carried by said flap and said segment to hold said pocket closed with said gussets collapsed.

10. A purse insert as claimed in claim 9, which includes:

a strip formed of flexible material and having one end secured to one of said end walls and side walls proximate 12. A purse insert as claimed in claim 11, wherein said relatively flexible sheet material forming said minor pockets, ex-

terior pocketsfthe end and bottom walls are formed of a flexible vinyl material which is essentially waterproof. 

